Your First Hike: If you need a sign, THIS is it

Lexi @ Mount Ranier National Park

If you want to get into hiking but are anxious because you are new, slow, overweight, out of shape, afraid, not sure where to start, read this.  

I think the number 1 question I get asked on my instagram is people asking for advice on how to "get into hiking" or just general advice for beginners.  This list is meant to give you some motivation and some simple ideas for just starting, but I don't delve deeply into anything.  Ask me questions!

Just Go

Don’t overthink it. Just do it. Don’t go buy fancy gear. Find a friend (or don't,) lace up your shoes, fill up your water bottle, and google a hike nearby and just frickin do it.   I'm not joking.  Go do it. 

After you read this. Obviously.

Choose an easy hike with a good pay off

Don’t go too hard too fast. It’ll be too hard, you’ll be miserable, you’ll hate yourself, and you’ll never want to do it again. 

A casual trail walk or a walk in the park is nice, but getting your heart rate way up, challenging yourself, and seeing a view you can only access by foot is what keeps me coming back for more. 

I always suggest doing something with an end goal (i.e. hiking to an overlook, hiking to a a lake, hike to a waterfall, etc) rather than a simple trail walk. Having a start and an end point gives you a feeling of accomplishment. And that feeling of accomplishment motivates you to do more. It makes you want to challenge yourself. Its psychology or something.

Your mind will stop you before your body does

If you’re going into a hike thinking “I can’t do this”, don’t go. Because you’re right. You can’t. I mean, you can, but starting off with your mind in a negative place will only make it more physically challenging. It sounds cheesy, but stay positive. Positivity makes hiking SO MUCH physically easier in my opinion.

I swear, sometimes the only thing that gets me up mountains is a positive attitude, hiking poles, and a genuine joy to be outside.

Think of the end goal. Think of how good you will feel when you DO do this, because you CAN do this. If you go in with a positive attitude and you can’t or don’t finish, you might leave disappointed, but you leave with the drive to attempt again. Make that hike your bitch!

Its okay to go slow - Enjoy the Journey

Again, too fast = miserable = self hatred = never want to hike again, or is that just me being dramatic?

Let people pass you.  Smile as they pass you.  Say hi as they pass you.  Enjoy the journey.  

Its not a competition.

Other people might act like it is, but it ain't.  You're gonna get there - just get there slowly and with a smile on your (tomato-red) face (:

H2O

Bring plenty of water and snacks. Bring more water than you think you’ll need. Bring more snacks than you think you’ll eat. Dehydration is not fun, and trust me. You’ll work up an appetite. Half the fun of hiking is the snacks anyways!

Research

So since snacks are half the fun of hiking, the other half is feeling that sense of adventure.  But mother nature is unpredictable, which can make adventuring unpredictable. 

Before your first hike, read some trail reviews (I use All Trails).  Make sure you understand the length and the elevation gain.  Go with someone who has done it before, or talk to someone who has done it before.  Buy a map of the area.

Is it winter? Check avalanche conditions.  

Make sure you know exactly what you're getting yourself into, and make sure you are equipped to handle it if something bad happens.  This can be as simple as finding a highly populated trail with cell service where someone can easily help you if something were to go south.  

So, what'd we learn?

- A positive mindset makes the hike so much easier

- Pick an easy hike with a clear start and end for that feeling of accomplishment that keeps you coming back for more

- Enjoy the journey, not just the destination.  Let people pass you, say hi, stay happy, it's not a race

- Bring water

- Bring snacks

- Plan ahead

What are we gonna do?

- JUST GO

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- Let Lexi know when I do my first hike